Virtual Camera Depth of Field Control in Media Editing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital graphic design and video editing tools lack the ability to easily modify the focal properties of virtual cameras, specifically the depth of field, which limits users' ability to control the focus range and apply special effects within a three-dimensional space.
Innovation Solution
The development of user interface tools that allow users to define and modify the focal properties of virtual cameras, including the region of focus, aperture, focus offset, near focus, and far focus, enabling users to adjust these parameters through sliders, numerical input, and movable planes within the three-dimensional space, and to set depth of field properties to change over time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional virtual camera definitions are used with a fixed focal plane, then the rendering process is simple and fast, but the user cannot easily modify focal properties or control the focus range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the focal properties into distinct controllable parameters: focal plane distance, focus range (near and far focus), and aperture. Each parameter can be independently adjusted through separate user interface controls, allowing granular modification of depth of field without requiring complex global adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends the traditional two-dimensional camera control (position and orientation) by adding depth-related focal controls. The focus range is represented as a three-dimensional volume in space, allowing users to control which regions at different depths are in focus, thereby adding a new dimension of creative control.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the focal plane is fixed at a specific distance, then the rendering calculation is straightforward, but the user cannot move the focal plane closer or further from the camera
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary representation system where focal properties are controlled through visual indicators (planes and volumes) displayed in the scene. Users interact with these visual representations to adjust focus, and the system translates these interactions into rendering parameters, making abstract focal concepts more intuitive to control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical camera focus mechanisms with software-based parameter control. Instead of physical lens adjustments, the system uses computational rendering with adjustable parameters (focal distance, focus range, aperture) that can be modified programmatically or through user interface controls.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a single focal plane is used, then the rendering is computationally efficient, but the user cannot render a range of distances in focus or expand/contract the focus range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic focus ranges that can be adjusted during rendering. The focus volume is defined by near and far focus planes that can be positioned independently, allowing the focus range to be dynamically expanded or contracted based on scene requirements without requiring complete re-rendering of the scene geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different quality levels to different regions of the scene based on their distance from the camera. Objects within the focus volume are rendered with full sharpness, while objects outside the range receive selective blurring. This local differentiation allows computational resources to be concentrated on in-focus regions while using approximations for out-of-focus areas.
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments provide a method that provides tools for defining a scene including media objects in a multi-dimensional space. The method provides a set of user interface tools for adjusting a region of focus for rendering the space from a particular location within a particular field of view. In some embodiments, the region of focus is a first region in the space within the particular field of view and the space further includes a second region outside of the region of focus within the particular field of view. In some embodiments, the method also provides a set of effects for applying to the second region but not the first region to visually indicate the first region as the region of focus within the space and the second region as a region outside of the region of focus within the space.